Spirit 8/23/2011

[gusandgidgetsmom]

We have just returned from our week long cruise to Alaska. I will try to write a detailed and accurate review from our view. First a little about the travelers. We are in our 60's(wife a business owner and husband retired management), frequent cruisers as well as people that take land trips. We had been traveling on the West coast for a month before our cruise. With us we had son,daughter in law,granddaughter, 2 other 60 somethings and a 40 y.o old and 23 y.o.

We had 4 cabins on 8th floor. We had an ocean suite, kids had vista suite, one aft balcony and an inside room.

We spent one night in Seattle before the cruise and boarded the cruise about 11. Five of us had VIP suite,platinum) and one also with VIP status was on crutches. VIP check in was pretty much non-existent. There was no lounge as at other ports and we were checked in and waited in a line as others. I do not think I have to have special treatment, but actually I paid for special boarding. We were checked in quickly and directed to sit in the same area as every one else. She said she would call VIP first then we could go to the front of the line. We were concerned as our daughter in law needed special help--one person in front of her one behind as our son pushed the stroller with an infant. We did not get to the front of the line and were told just to get in the regular line. This was difficult for our daughter as she was having a hard time standing. I finally went up and explained to the fifth person that we had priority boarding and what our situation was. After a period of time they let us board. I apologize to the people we went in front of but actually we did pay to be in the beginning.

We went to the Lido deck had lunch then got to go to our rooms.

Our ocean suite was great. Lots of room and the balcony was a good size. We all thought our room was the best of all of them as we had the most available space. We had them open our balcony from the vista suite but they could not open the aft balcony on the other side of the vista suite. Made for a great long balcony.

I have cruised other cruise lines but keep going back to Carnival for the price and itinery. We all took a cruise together in 2007 on the Triumph and at that time my husband said he would not cruise again. It was a very bad cruise but I know you can have problems anywhere. Until then we had been going on 2 to 3 cruises a year for a number of years. I went on cruises with the kids since he refused to go again but finally talked him into this cruise.

I will try explain why this cruise was so much of a disappointment for us. While it was not all bad things just were not as we had expected. Before any one gets angry I do not have extremely high expectations, just what I had experienced in all the cruises I have taken since the 80's.

Day one we met our steward, Jonathon. He did a great job keeping our rooms clean and was extremely pleasant. We checked out the ship and waited for our luggage to arrive. When the luggage came we got things put away and then headed down to the MDR. We had early seating and were all at the same table.

Our waiter was very nice but it was as if he had too many tables to wait. Many times we had to waiit on water and drinks. Several at the table had soda cards and would not get their drinks until close to dessert. This is not the way it had been on any cruises before. The food was good and the choices the same as usual. We rarely saw the helpers until the last night. One of our daughters had ordered a b'day cake from the Bon Voyage dept. and it was delievred to my husband and they sang him happy birthday. A couple of our group went to the casino and the rest went back to the rooms to catch up. We live in different parts of the country. The seas were very rough.

 

1st full sea day--had breakfast in the MDR. This was the best meal of the day. We were waited on quickly and efficently. We saw a couple of whales from our balcony. The naturalist on board, Michelle, would come on and let us know if their was any wild life or any special scenery to be looked at. She was very good. The seas were rougher than we were used to. We have been through several hurricanes yet these seas brought several to a state of sea-sickness. My husband said he thought he might get thrown out of bed.

This was elegant night. Many in the dining room were not dressed up as on other cruises. I really don't care how others dress so it did not bother me but felt this was a much more casual dressed cruise. We had family pixs taken that turned out very nicely. We went back to the room and sat on the balcony to watch the whales--with gloves and sweatshirts on. Got some great pictures.

 

2nd full day. We had room service deliver coffee and juice to our room. When others were up we went to the LIdo. The food was cold(as it was every time we were on Lido). We were in Alaska so we went back to our room to look at the scenery. Alaska is pretty but in my opinion Oregon is a much prettier place. Today we went on the Catamaran excursion in the Tracy Arm Fjord. This is an excursion that is not to be missed. It can be booked by emailing Carnival before your cruise--not offered as an excursion in the regular manner. We boarded a small catamaran out in the middle of the ocean that hooked up to our ship. (If I can figure out how to place pixs on here I will with the next post). We saw glaciers calving, harbor seals, beautiful waterfalls, birds and lovely scenery. This was what I had been told Alaska was all about.

This evening we went to the MDR and then went to see a comedian/juggler. We all said that the act could been in a grade school talent show. I keep hoping he would hurry up and get done.

The waters were much calmer this night.

 

Will continue more and hope to post pixs next.